Synthesis and Characterization of 2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate (HEMA) and Methyl Methacrylate (MMA) Copolymer Used as Biomaterial

A series of poly(methyl methacrylate-co-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PMMA-co-PHEMA), copolymers were synthesized by an emulsion polymerization technique. Copolymer compositions were determined by FT-IR and 1H-NMR spectroscopy. It was found that comonomer ratios used in the recipes were comparable within the actual copolymers. Glass transition temperatures (Tg) of PMMA-co-PHEMA copolymers were varied from 119°C to 100°C by increasing HEMA content. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the copolymers were stable up to 330°C. High intrinsic viscosity values of copolymer resulted in ductile solution-cast films. The hydrophilicity of the films was analyzed by water uptake measurements.